Wisconsin's football program had struggled for many years, but Bevell was named starting quarterback in 1993 and he promptly led the team to a surprising "Cinderella" season. The 1993 Badgers finished the year with a 10–1–1 record, becoming co-champions of the Big Ten and securing the school's first Rose Bowl invitation since 1963. They ended the season by defeating UCLA Bruins 21–16 in the 1994 Rose Bowl. It was the school's first-ever Rose Bowl victory. In the fourth quarter of that game, with Wisconsin clinging to a 14–10 lead, Bevell made the most memorable play of his college career. Not known for his running ability, Bevell scrambled 21 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

The following season, Bevell again guided the Badgers to a winning season. They defeated the Duke Blue Devils 34–20 in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl, giving Wisconsin back-to-back bowl wins for the first time ever. Bevell finished his career with several school records, including most passing yards in a single game (423) and in a career (7,686).

In 2000, Bevell was hired by the Green Bay Packers as an offensive assistant. In 2003, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Brett Favre. In 2006, Childress was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and he brought Bevell to become the offensive coordinator. In 2009, Bevell was reunited with Brett Favre, but this time being the offensive coordinator, and having the play-calling duties. In 2009, the Vikings had a successful season going 12-4 and advanced to the NFC Championship game, ultimately losing in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. In the first season with Favre, he produced 4,202 passing yards with 33 touchdowns and accumulating a QB rating of 107.2 in which was his career best. In 2010, Minnesota season ended with 6-10 record, and with disastrous moves throughout the season in which head coach Brad Childress was fired mid-way through the season. Replaced by defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier as interim head coach at 3-7 record, and finishing 3-3 as interim head coach. In the beginning of the 2011 season, Bevell was not retained as the offensive coordinator by new Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, and was replaced by Bill Musgrave.

On January 21, 2011, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll hired Bevell to become the new offensive coordinator after the firing of Jeremy Bates due to "offensive philosophy difference". In 2011, the Seahawks went 7-9, and failed to defend their NFC West title in which they didn't make the playoffs. Bevell's offense that year with the Seahawks was 28th in the league. In 2012 off-season, Bevell was scouting quarterback Russell Wilson, who attended Wisconsin, his alma mater. Bevell attended Wilson's pro-day which very few NFL scouts attended. Through the off-season, the Seahawks obtained Green Bay Packers back-up quarterback Matt Flynn who experts thought was Bevell's choice of quarterback. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft it was thought Seattle was set at the quarterback position since they had Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson, but for whatever reason Seahawks decided to add one more, drafting Russell Wilson out of University of Wisconsin-Madison in the third round. Thoughts on selecting Wilson, Pete Carroll stated, "It was Bevell's project". In training camp the quarterback competition was thinned out between two, after Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills.

In 2012, the Seahawks named Wilson the starting quarterback for the season. The Seahawks finished the season with an 11-5 record, and took 2nd within the NFC West eventually losing in the Divisional round in the playoffs. In Bevell's second year with the Seahawks, offensively they were 17th in the league which was an improvement from the last season. In rushing the Seahawks were 3rd in league, previously being 21st in 2011, accumulating 2,579 yards and averaging 161.2 yards on the ground.

In 2013, the Seahawks finished the season at 13-3 and eventually defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Bevell's rushing offense was 4th in the league with 2,188 yards and averaged 136.8 yards per game. Overall in total offense, Bevell's team finished 18th in the league, producing 339.0 yards per game.

In 2014, the Seahawks finished the season at 12-4 and attempted to repeat as Super Bowl champions. They came short in Super Bowl XLIX, which they lost to the New England Patriots after passing on 2nd and goal from the 1-yard line with 26 seconds left. Trailing 28–24, Russell Wilson targeted receiver Ricardo Lockette, but New England's Malcolm Butler made a game-saving interception with 20 seconds left on the clock. The playcall was universally criticized and was viewed by many to be one of the worst playcalls in Super Bowl history. "I can't believe the call," NBC color commentator Cris Collinsworth said after the play was run. "You have Marshawn Lynch. You have a guy who's been borderline unstoppable. ... If I lose this Super Bowl because Marshawn Lynch can't get into the end zone, so be it. So be it. I can't believe the call".[2]Sports Illustrated writer Peter King called the play one of the worst calls in Super Bowl history,[3] and so did retired NFL hall of famer Deion Sanders.[4] Retired running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all time leading rusher, went even further, calling it the worst play call in the history of football.[5] Bevell acknowledged making the call,[6] but also remarked that Lockette could have been more aggressive on the play.[7] Wilson said the play was a "good call", and lamented throwing the interception and "not making that play."[6] Carroll, though, said the last play was "all my fault", and called Bevell "crucially important to our future."[6] The head coach added that Seattle would have run the ball on a subsequent play.[6] "We don't ever call a play thinking we might throw an interception."[8]